Abstract
This work explores the potential of three hypersaline native microalgae strains from Oklahoma, Geitlerinema carotinosum, Pseudanabaena sp., and Picochlorum oklahomensis, for simultaneous treatment of flowback (FW) and produced wastewater (PW) and the production of algal biomass. The quality of wastewater before and after treatment with these microalgae strains was evaluated and a characterization of algal biomass in terms of moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and ash contents was assessed. The experimental results indicated how all the microalgae strains were able to grow in both FW and PW, revealing their potential for wastewater treatment. Although algal biomass production was limited by nutrient availability both in PW and FW, a maximum biomass concentration higher than 1.35 g L−1 were achieved by the three strains in two of the PWs and one of the FWs tested, with Pseudanabaena sp. reaching nearly 2 g L−1. Interestingly, higher specific growth rates were obtained by the two cyanobacteria strains G. carotinosum and Pseudanabaena sp. when cultivated in both PW and FW, compared to P. oklahomensis. The harvested algal biomass contained a significant amount of energy, even though it was significantly reduced by the very high salt content. The energy content fell within the recommended range of 16–17 MJ kg−1 for biomass as feedstock for biofuels. The algal treatment resulted in the complete removal of ammonia from the wastewater and a significant reduction in contaminants, such as nitrate, phosphate, boron, and micronutrients like zinc, manganese, and iron.
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This research was supported by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Basic Plant Science Program, Project # PS13-007 and Oklahoma Water Resources Center.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Giovanni Antonio Lutzu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Giovanni Antonio Lutzu and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Alessandro Concas and Nurhan Turgut Dunford performed reviewing, editing, and supervision. All the authors take responsibility for the integrity of the whole work and approve its final version to be submitted.
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Lutzu, G.A., Concas, A. & Dunford, N.T. Characterization of hypersaline Oklahoma native microalgae cultivated in flowback and produced water: growth profile and contaminant removal. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-024-02992-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-024-02992-8